title: Association between vitamin K intake from fermented soybeans, natto, and bone mineral density in elderly Japanese men: the Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men (FORMEN) study.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  A cross-sectional analysis of 1,662 community dwelling elderly Japanese men suggested that habitual natto intake was significantly associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD). When adjustment was made for undercarboxylated osteocalcin levels, this association was insignificant, showing the natto-bone association to be primarily mediated by vitamin K.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Low vitamin K intake is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, but reports have been inconsistent on its effect on BMD. Our first aim was to examine the association between BMD and intake of fermented soybeans, natto, which contain vitamin K1 (20 μg/pack) and K2 (380 μg/pack). Our second aim was to examine the association between undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), a biomarker of vitamin K intake, and BMD to evaluate the role of vitamin K in this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the Japanese men aged ≥65 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men study, 1,662 men without diseases or medications known to affect bone metabolism were examined for associations between self-reported natto intake or serum ucOC levels with lumbar spine or hip BMD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects with greater intake of natto showed significantly lower level of serum ucOC. Analysis after adjustment for confounding variables showed an association of greater intake of natto with both significantly higher BMD and lower risk of low BMD (T-score < -1 SD) at the total hip and femoral neck. This association became insignificant after further adjustment for ucOC level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Habitual intake of natto was associated with a beneficial effect on bone health in elderly men, and this association is primarily due to vitamin K content of natto, although the lack of information on dietary nutrient intake, including vitamin K1 and K2, prevented us from further examining the association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Oono-higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kouda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yura
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kadowaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: J-S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomioka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurumatani
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D045730:Soy Foods / Q000032:analysis*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015675:Osteocalcin; D014812:Vitamin K